Robert Spencer

Robert Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch, a project of the David Horowitz Freedom Center.[1] He is also the co-author with ultra-Zionist Pamela Geller of a book in which they allege that US President Barack Obama, whom he has suggested may be a Muslim,[2] is waging a 'war on America.' In a joint video message, Geller has referred to Obama as 'the anti-Semite in the White House' who will bring about a 'second Holocaust', a view which Spencer affirms. Yet, despite Spencer's extreme views, he was recently invited to explain Islam to the Tidewater Joint Terrorism Task Force, one of the law enforcement and intelligence coalitions established and after 9/11.[3] In 2009, the American Library Association had to cancel an event on Islam after all panelists withdrew after finding out that Spencer was also included without their being informed.[4] He is also a supporter of the EDL.

In April 2009, Spencer was invited to speak in Cologne by Pro Köln. Following criticism by blogger Charles Johnson, Spencer said 'I have not confirmed that I will be attending, and am looking into the group and the people involved'.[5]

He was barred from entering UK territory in 2013 for at least three years, along with Pamela Geller, because the pair’s views were said to 'foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence.' [6]

Views

On Barack Obama

In a book co-authored with Pamela Geller, Spencer has argued that Obama is waging a 'war on America.'[7] But in a joint video message Spencer and Geller accused Obama of more heinous crimes:

Pamela Geller: 'It is not enough to fetishize the dead Jews that were murdered in WWII...[we must] make sure that it doesn't happen again. Because a second holocaust is coming. Six million Jews are in the Jewish homeland of Israel. It is now up to you and me to stop -- well -- the anti-Semite in the White House, and his useful idiots in the Congress.'

On immigration and multiculturalism

In 2011, he wrote an article in Crisis Magazine in which he described multiculturalism as a 'heresy' that is intent on 'denigrating and ultimately destroying the Judeo-Christian West.'
In that same article, he recommended a book written in 1973 by a white nationalist, Jean Raspail, entitled Camp of the Saints, an overtly racist novel that depicts France overrun by non-white immigrants from India.[6]

On Islam and Muslims

He wrote in 2006 that '[T]raditional Islam itself is not moderate or peaceful. It is the only major world religion with a developed doctrine and tradition of warfare against unbelievers'. [9] He also said in 2010 that it is 'absurd' to think that 'Islam is a religion of peace that’s been hijacked by a tiny minority.' [10]

He claimed falsely that '80% of the mosques in the United States are actually controlled by extremists' in a 2003 interview on MSNBC’s 'Nachman'. [11]

He claimed in a 2011 radio interview that freedom of religion shouldn’t be 'considered absolute' because Islam 'impinges upon our freedoms'. He continued his argument by saying that Islam is both a religion and 'a political ideology' and 'the political ideology is what is dangerous to Americans.' [12]

On 'stealth jihad'

He believes in a conspiracy theory popular with anti-Muslim activists, that of 'grand replacement' or 'stealth jihad'. In a January 2015 interview on Fox News' Hannity, just after the Charlie Hebdo shootings, he said that a 'core principle' of Islam is 'the idea of emigrating to a new place to conquer and Islamize it, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing.' He added that 'Shariah enclaves' will 'inevitably grow and continue to grow until, finally, that’s all there is', because population growth is higher within migrant populations. [13]

On media promoting Islam

During the same interview, he suggested that 'the media' have been receiving funds to portray Muslims in a good way and smear anti-Muslim activists like himself:

Muslims 'had a big public relations disaster on 9/11. [...] They’ve turned it around with amazing skill and I can’t help but think that maybe media is getting some money for this.' [12]

Accusations

He has been accusing many of links with 'Islamist' organisations or 'shariah-complaince' over the years:

In 2010, he wrote an article whose headline suggested that ISNA who had just approved Campbell's new line of halal-certified soups, was linked to Hamas. [14]

He is one of the proponents of the idea of a 'Islamist-left alliance':

'[T]he left doesn’t really like America or Western civilization and so I think that they see in Islam another entity that doesn’t like Western civilization and so they see it, in it an ally, and that’s essentially what’s going on.' [16]